The lawsuit against CRGE Cincinnati, Capri Concepts and Frank Capri was filed last Friday.

The restaurant was the first to sign on to the project in 2010.

Keith owns the Oklahoma City location, but not Cincinnati's.

Meanwhile, establishments just around the corner are packed while Toby Keith's just has a handful of people.

Kelsey Warsinske said she lives and works downtown but Toby Keith's doesn't have much of a draw for her.

"I think they probably attract a certain demographic. Other bars probably appeal to wider demographic. I feel if you're not into country music, it's probably not your scene," Warsinske said.

That doesn't mean that nearby business owners aren't concerned about the situation.

"It's disappointing to hear of someone struggling down here. All of us on this side of the block are doing fantastic," Holy Grail part-owner Jim Moehring said. "There is a misconception that the city is our landlord and the county is our landlord; and in reality, it is Carter and Dawson out of Atlanta, that we pay our rent to."

A sign outside Toby Keith's says "We are not closing."

Calls for comment to the restaurant's owners in Scottsdale, Ariz., were not returned.

In a post on its Facebook page, the bar said, "This is simply a contract dispute between the Landlord and the Tenant. While Toby Keith's has withheld rent from the Landlord, it is in response to what Toby Keith's believes to be a violation of protections it is provided under its lease agreement"

"Specifically, Toby Keith's believes that its exclusive to operate as a country music themed restaurant providing live music is being infringed upon by another Tenant with Landlord's approval. Toby Keith's has placed the Landlord on notice that it believes a violation has occurred and the Landlord has failed to cure the violation," the post said.

In the meantime, the bar and grill remains open.

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